General purpose data communications protocol converter

Abstract

A data communications protocol converter for interfacing manufacturing process equipment with a host computer comprises a controller that converts the messages transmitted by the host computer and equipment into messages that meet the protocol of the receiving side. A data acquisition system coupled between the controller and equipment provides a parallel interface to the process equipment and allows the converter to check for/activate logic signals from/to the process equipment. A user interface circuit provides the controller with a user friendly interface that enables the user to set any message parameters and conversation scheme and to interactively communicate with each attached device and edit and re-transmit previously send messages. A software support workstation coupled to the controller through a network provides capability for remote target machine access, software maintenance and configuration modification via the network.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A data communications protocol converter for interfacing manufacturing process equipment with a host computer controlling said process equipment, comprising: 
       a controller responsive to first messages received from said host computer using a first data communications protocol for forming second messages sent to said process equipment using a second data communications protocol, and  
       a data acquisition system providing a parallel digital input/output interface to said process equipment and responsive to a control signal from said controller for checking and activating operation signals supplied to and from said process equipment to check and set process parameters of said process equipment,  
       wherein said first data communications protocol differs from said second data communications protocol.  
     
     
       2. The converter of claim  1 , further comprising: 
       a user interface coupled to said controller for defining and controlling parameters of said controller.  
     
     
       3. The converter of claim  2 , wherein said user interface comprises means for defining structures of said second messages. 
     
     
       4. The converter of claim  2 , wherein said user interface comprises means for defining templates of said second messages. 
     
     
       5. The converter of claim  2 , wherein said user interface comprises means for defining conversation sequences of said second messages. 
     
     
       6. The converter of claim  2 , wherein said user interface comprises means for defining line protocols for communication between said controller and said process equipment, and between said controller and said host computer. 
     
     
       7. The converter of claim  1 , further comprising a support workstation coupled to said controller through a telecommunication network for remote defining and controlling parameters of said controller through said communication network. 
     
     
       8. The converter of claim  1 , wherein said data acquisition system checks manufacturing process conditions of said process equipment. 
     
     
       9. The converter of claim  1 , wherein said controller sends to said host computer an error message in response to an error signal from said data acquisition system. 
     
     
       10. The converter of claim  1 , wherein said controller comprises a message processing means for analyzing said first messages and forming said second messages. 
     
     
       11. The converter of claim  10 , wherein said controller comprises first message receiving means and second message sending means corresponding to said host computer and said process equipment. 
     
     
       12. The converter of claim  11 , wherein said first message receiving means put said first messages in a queue for subsequent analysis. 
     
     
       13. The converter of claim  12 , wherein said message processing means analyzes said queue of messages, forms said second messages and puts said second messages in the queue to be dispatched. 
     
     
       14. The converter of claim  13 , wherein said second message sending means receive said second messages of said queue in accordance with their destination. 
     
     
       15. The converter of claim  1 , wherein said process equipment comprises a plurality of process units. 
     
     
       16. The converter of claim  15 , wherein said controller is responsive to each of said process units. 
     
     
       17. The converter of claim  16 , wherein said data acquisition system is coupled to each of said process units for checking their operation conditions. 
     
     
       18. The converter of claim  16 , wherein said controller comprises separate first message receiving means for said host computer and each of said process units. 
     
     
       19. The converter of claim  16 , wherein said controller comprises separate second message sending means for said host computer and each of said process units. 
     
     
       20. The converter of claim  16 , wherein said process units have different data communication protocols. 
     
     
       21. The converter of claim  1 , wherein said protocols meet Semiconductor Equipment Communication Standard (SECS). 
     
     
       22. A method of data communication protocol conversion to interface manufacturing process equipment with a host computer controlling said process equipment, comprising the steps of: 
       processing by a controller first messages received from said host computer and process equipment for forming second messages sent to said process equipment and host computer, and  
       in response to the preceding step, providing a parallel input/output interface to numerous units of said process equipment for checking and activating operation signals supplied to and from said process equipment to check and set process parameters of said process equipment, and sending an error message to said host computer in response to a predetermined condition,  
       wherein data communication protocol of said host computer differs from data communication protocols of said process equipment.  
     
     
       23. The method of claim  22 , further comprising the step of defining and controlling parameters of the protocol conversion through an user interface. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim  22 , further comprising the step of remote defining and controlling parameters of the protocol conversion through a telecommunication network. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim  22 , wherein said step of processing is performed by a controller, and said step of processing comprises the steps of: 
       handling by receiving means first line protocols of data communication between said controller and said host computer and process equipment to receive said first messages,  
       putting said first messages in a queue,  
       analyzing said first messages in accordance with predetermined parameters of the protocol conversion to form said second messages,  
       putting said second messages in the queue,  
       sending said second messages in accordance with their destination, and  
       handling second line protocols of data communication between said controller and said host processor and process equipment to send said second messages.  
     
     
       26. The method of claim  25 , wherein said step of checking is performed by data acquisition equipment, and said step of analyzing comprises the step of sending a request to said data acquisition system for checking the operation condition of said process equipment. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus for protocol conversion between a host data processor means and manufacturing equipment comprising: 
       message processing means responsive to said host data processor and said manufacturing equipment for converting a first message of a first protocol received from said host data processing means and said manufacturing equipment into a second message of a second protocol to be sent to said host data processor and said manufacturing equipment, and  
       data acquisition means providing a parallel digital input/output interface to said manufacturing equipment and responsive to said message processing means for checking and activating status signals supplied to and from said manufacturing means to check and set modes of operation of said manufacturing means.  
     
     
       28. The converter of claim  1 , further comprising an input/output server responsive to a request from said controller for activating a required event of said process equipment by sending an activate event signal through said data acquisition system. 
     
     
       29. The converter of claim  1 , wherein said first data communication protocol meets a MSEC Standard.